What is now becoming an annual event the Thursday before Derby - my long time friend (best uh man? at my wedding) Beth Kinnane and I got up way damn early this morning to head to Churchill Downs. Sat my alarm for 4:00 a.m. and rudely woke myself up at 3:45. Maybe I was excited - maybe I have sleep issues. One never knows (well - one knows but whatever - that's a chapter in the book). Got up - and prettied myself - which seems to be getting harder year after year (don't comment) without vomiting and botox. I skipped the latter for one year - and deciding that's a bad idea. Oh - I skipped the former as well before anyone gets all freaked out - half of what I say like that is just for shock value. Relax. So anyway (thanks Elliptical machine - work faster!).
We met in Versailles and headed to Louisville.
We got to Churchill, parked - visited our flirtatious friend at the gate "I remember you from last year." (it's the blue goatee). Made our way to our new favorite spot - a grassy area between one clocker stand and the new handicapped ramp/viewing stand. Less people - perfect scenery. Well - you can see the horses and that monstrosity of a grandstand that hides the once famed Twin Spires and now is covered with lights (I'm fine with the lights because it brings in people that may not go during the day - works for me - just the grandstand is way lacking as an architectural vision - more of an eyesore.
So then we waited. Because of the Derby/Oaks horses basically only going to the track after the renovation break - you see a bunch of horses that you don't know and no one cares. The excitement that was there last year is completely gone. It makes it easier for professional photographers and such so that's good but even the ones I know told me it has ruined the chance of the personal shots that you would normally go get after a workout/gallop. They lose the time to go to the barn and get the bath shot and such because they have another shot to get. So they lose a lot of those OTHER shots but get all the on track performance shots they could want.
We saw just about every horse and for the most part - my goal was to see my top 5 guys.
1. Backtalk - I don't care what you say - I can like who I want - it's worked for me in the past - so I stick to my plan. Really like him - and in person - he's large, stunning and impressive - nothing like his sire who has never really done much for me (Smarty Jones). He gets his look from his dam's side - a daughter of Affirmed.
2. Ice Box - he's not a big guy but he's well made - really makes sure you notice him. I'm very excited about him on Saturday.
3. Noble's Promise - he's already outrun his pedigree so don't say shit to me on that ok? Go deeper. I think he's got the class over many of these colts - and other than that bad break in the Arkansas Derby - pretty damn consistent record - which is always a sign for a board hitter to me. He's visually classy as well. Walked with an air of arrogance in front of me.
4. Lookin at Lucky - he's serious. Very nice looking colt - as you'd expect from a Smart Strike but he didn't fuck around. He looked like he was out there with a job to do, move out of the way - I'm a professional. I got a bath shot thanks to Beth with my camera.
5. Sidney's Candy - he's in my top 5 but seeing him - I felt nothing - he's not like the stunning Chocolate Candy from the same connections as last year - so I may be wavering to replace him.
The most impressive horse I saw today? Setsuko! Thanks California racing for dropping your Graded stakes to the minimum to hold the grade but you screwed horses that should be going - Setsuko runs 2nd in the G1 Santa Anita Derby - but isn't in the Kentucky Derby. That's just odd. But I blame California because everyone else is trying to man up - especially places like Sunland and such with actual purse money to run at. I'd never want to prep in CA for the Kentucky Derby for the sake of 2 things - fake surfaces and low purses. Not worth if you have a horse like this that is just starting to put it all together - and needs a real surface to run on.
I was not impressed with Awesome Act (looked like Wilko - yuck), Make Music for Me (looked very Turf Paradise claimer to me), Dublin (just looked ragged) and Devil May Care (if she didn't have chrome - you would never have noticed her - just bleck). Saw plenty others I didn't want to like Dean's Kitten and Stately Victor - but they look really good. So overall - of 20 horses I saw 18 - and didn't like 3. Not bad. Never saw Super Saver or Homeboykris. Btw - the horses above that I didn't like - other than Dublin - look fine just not my taste. So don't anyone think I am saying they are bad horses or aren't healthy - just not at all what I like in a horse.
Of the Oaks fillies - I was heavily unimpressed with all but Jody Slew - I have already picked her from months ago but she was the also the only one with a presence. Other than Blind Luck - but her presence wasn't impressive - just little feisty bitch looking. Don't know her - don't care but I did notice her. Maybe I noticed Amen Hallejulah (I don't care if that's not her spelling - I care so little that I don't feel like alt tabbing just to be sure).
We ran into several friends - saw some strippers, I mean exotic dancers (actually just some girls willing to do anything for a buck wandering around with a wizard - don't ask, cause I don't know and was just laughing at them) and then headed to the barn of Michelle Nihei after watching Prince Will I Am on the track. We got a barn tour from Michelle of all the kids there. Always good to put a face with the name of all her the horses she trains.
We were on the look out for Diane Lane who was rumored to be there with Penny Chenery but never saw her. Oh well. We did a quick walk through on our way to meet Michelle and a friend of ours at Lynn's Paradise Cafe - if you haven't been - GO! Then the drive home for 2 not so young, not so early risers. We had a great time - but man we were wore out.
Churchill isn't at all what it was my first time there as a kid (before turf track) and it isn't what it was my first Derby (Silver Charm) but it is what it's always been - a little bit of heaven during Derby week. I've lost that whole little kid fan feeling years ago. The I can't believe I'm here feeling that I had when I first moved here and was prepping yearlings. I wondered where it went and I realized this year - I'm just a grown up. The time of the fantasy is past - and there is a ton of reality. I used to be sad about that - but now I'm actually excited - I realize I can/will still get there. Plus - how many never even get the experience I had there last year/this year in their entire life.
Later tonight I'll give you my Oaks Day card picks and tomorrow - Derby Day card picks.
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| Years | Picks | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | % wins |
| 80's | 17 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 18% |
| 90's | 20 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0% |
| 00's | 26 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 19% |
| Totals | 63 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 13% |
| Picks | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | win % |
| 26 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 19% |
I don't usually bother reporting News because so many other blogs only do that - but this is kind of important. Here is the NTRA press release for Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta's 2010 debuts - live coverage.
SEASONAL DEBUTS OF RACHEL ALEXANDRA, ZENYATTA TO BE SHOWN LIVE ON NTRA.COM
Other Key Races to be Webcast Live as Part of NTRA Interactive Initiative
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that the organization’s Website, NTRA.COM, will offer free, live video streaming this Saturday of the seasonal debuts of both 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and the undefeated Champion Zenyatta. Rachel Alexandra will make her 2010 bow in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes from Fair Grounds, while Zenyatta will compete later that day in the Grade I Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita. The New Orleans Ladies and the Santa Margarita are expected to serve as preps for Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, respectively, prior to their scheduled showdown in the April 9 Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn Park. Post time for the New Orleans Ladies is slated for 6:15 p.m. (ET), and the Santa Margarita is set for 6:40 p.m. (ET). Both races also will be televised live on HRTV.
Saturday’s Webcast will begin at 6 p.m. (ET) and is the first of a series of races leading to the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup World Championships that will be Webcast live on NTRA.COM. The series, called NTRA Live!”, will be hosted by ESPN analyst and NFL Network host Randy Moss. NTRA Live! will feature interviews with handicappers and on-track analysts, interactive chats with viewers, pre-and post-race analysis, handicapping selections, easy access to free past performance data and advance deposit wagering platforms, as well as other original and unique programming components. The programs will be produced and directed by Tim Turrell, who has produced numerous telecasts on horse racing and other sports for ESPN, The Golf Channel and others.
“There is obviously immense interest in Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, and we can think of no better way to launch NTRA Live! than through a worldwide Webcast of their 2010 debuts,” said Keith Chamblin, senior vice president of the NTRA. “Our goal is to deliver high-quality broadcasts of these important races to a worldwide audience. We also want to take advantage of this Web-based platform by utilizing content elements that wouldn’t necessarily be available to us via traditional programming.”
Following Saturday’s Webcast, NTRA Live will continue on March 20 with the Webcast of the Florida Derby from Gulfstream Park. Other races on the schedule, which is expected to include 15-20 Webcasts during the year, include the March 28 Sunland Derby from Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino and the April 17 Coolmore Lexington Stakes from Keeneland.
| Picks | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | win % |
| 20 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Picks | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | win % |
| 17 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 18% |